Ski instructional device

ABSTRACT

A ski instructional device includes a pair of skis; a pair of ski poles and an apparatus for engaging the lower end of each ski pole to the front portion of one of the skis at the point where the curve of the tip of the ski ends and the ski becomes flat. The ski poles individually engage the apparatus located at the point just described and permit the user to lean forward or back by holding onto the poles. The length of the ski poles is usually selected in accordance with the user&#39;&#39;s height to thereby guide the person using the ski instructional device into the correct position for skiing. The ski instructional device also includes a block mounted on the rear portion of each ski to prevent the rear portion of the skis from crossing over one another and for facilitating a turning force developed by pushing one ski against the block of the other ski.

United States Patent 1 91 1111 3,885,805 Solymosi May 27, 1975 SKI INSTRUCTIONAL DEVICE Primary Examiner-Leo Friaglia [76] Inventor J i :i i x9322; Assistant ExaminerMilton L. Smith [22] Filed: Apr. 5, 1973 [57] ABSTRACT [21] Appl' 348,129 A ski instructional device includesa pair of skis; a pair of ski poles and an apparatus for engaging the lower 52 US. Cl. 2s0/11.13 H; 280/1 1.37 E 9nd of each Ski p to the front Portion of 9119 of the [51] Int. Cl. A63c 5/06 Skis at h Point where the curve of the p of the Ski [58] Field of Search... 280/1 1.13 H, 12 H, 11 37 E ends and the ski becomes flat. The ski poles individu- 280/11 37 R ally engage the apparatus located at the point just described and permit the user to lean forward or back by 5 References Cited holding onto the poles. The length of the ski poles is UNITED STATES PATENTS usually selected in accordance with the users height to thereby guide the person using the ski instructional $35322 3 device into the correct position for skiing. The ski in- 3 088 748 5/1963 Malmo..i:IIIIHUIIIIE8O/l1.13 H x Structional dFvice includes a block mmmted 311211892 2,1964 Plumlee 9/310 D the rear portlon of each sk1 to prevent the rear portion 3,148,891 9/1964 Heuvel 280/1 1.37 E of the Skis from crossing o one another and for 3,171,667 3/1965 Wightman 280/21 R cilitating a turning force developed by pushing one ski 3,295,860 l/l967 Von Hoven... 280/11.37 E against the block of the other ski. 3,357,714 12/1967 Kuehn 280/1l.37 E 3,567,239 3/1971 Kitterman 2230/1137 13 2 Claims, 4 Drawmg Flgures 1 SKI INSTRUCTIONAL DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention A This invention relates to the field of ski instructional devices and, more particularly, to a device which guides the user into a correct position on the skis and provides a device which teaches the technique of turning on skis.

2. Description of the Prior Art U.S. Pat. No. 2,490,183 discloses a device in which a ski pole can be movably connected to an attachment mounted upon the forward portion of the ski in a different construction from that used in this invention.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,567,239 also disclosesa ski pole engaged with skis. Other U.S. patents of general interest include: 3,357,714; 3,171,667; 3,121,892; and 1,313,502.

SUMMARY or THE INVENTION This invention is a ski instructional device which includes a pair of skis; a pair of 'ski poles; and a means adapted to engage and disengage the lower end of each ski pole to the front portion of one of the skis at the point where the curve of the toe of the ski ends and the ski becomes flat, the length of the ski poles being selected in accordance with the users height to thereby guide the person using the ski instructional device into the correct position for skiing.

In one embodiment, the means adapted to engage the lower end of each ski pole to the front portion of one of the skis includes a' pair of sockets, one socket being mounted on the front portion of each ski; and a pair of T-shaped members, one said member being mounted at the lower end of each said pole, said T-shaped members being adapted to engage the sockets.

In a second embodiment of this ski instructional device the means adapted to engage the lower end of each ski pole to the front portion of one of the skis includes a pair of brackets, one bracket being mounted on the front portion of each ski; and a pair of hooks, one hook DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 shows the ski instructional device, designated generally by the numeral 2, in use. The ski instructional device 2 of this invention includes a pair of skis 4; a pair of ski poles 6; and a means adapted to engage the lower end of each ski pole 6 to the front portion of one of the skis 4.

The appropriate ski poles 6 are selected in accordance with the height of the person 8 utilizing the ski instructional device 2. Generally, the ski poles 6 are of the same length as the height of the users armpits when 'the user 8 is standing erect. When the ski poles 6 are engaged with the skis 4, the ski poles 6 act as a reference, guiding the user 8 in relation to his vertical position relative to the ski instructional device.

When engaged to the skis 4, the ski poles 6 permit the user 8 either to lean forward or back relative to the users usual vertical position. The primary purpose in permitting the user 8 to lean backward is to facilitate turning of the skis 4 by permitting the user 8 to pivot the'skis 4 on the rear portion of the ski while at the same time freeing the front portion from engagement surface. This particular technique is particularly useful being mounted at the lower end of each ski pole, said hooks being adapted to engage said brackets.

The ski instructional device also includes a means mounted on the rear portion of each ski to prevent the rear portion of the skis from crossing over one another and for facilitating the application of a turning force. The means is a pair of blocks, one said block being mounted on the rear portion of each ski.

The purpose of this invention is to allow the user to practice basic balancing skills needed for skiing, to guide the user into the correct position on the skis and to allow the skier to shift his weight back and forth on the skis, with more safety at the extreme front and back positions.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the ski instructional device of this invention in use.

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of FIG. 1 along the lines 2-2.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged isometric view of a portion of FIG. 1, showing one of the sockets mounted on the front portion of each ski.

FIG. 4 is an alternate embodiment of FIG. 3.

for beginner or novice skiers who are understandably reluctant to lean back and have a natural tendency to lean forward over the skis.

The means 14 for engaging the lower end of each ski pole 6 to the front portion of the skis 4 is at a particular point 10 where the curve of the tip of the skis ends and the skis become primarily flat. The location of this particular point 10 is important with respect to the invention and substantial variation in its location can defeat the primary purpose of this invention. For example, if the particular point 10 is positioned forward of its preferred location, it is located on the curved portion of the tip of the ski and pulling back on the ski poles by the user has little effect since that portion of the tip is not normally in contact with the snow surface. Similarly, if point 10 is positioned more towards the middle of the ski on the flattened portion away from the curved tip, pulling or pushing of the ski poles by the user will not normally free that portion of the ski from the snow surface and turning is in no way facilitated.

The ski instructional device 2 further includes a means mounted on the rear portion of each ski 4 to prevent the rear portion of the skis 4 from crossing over one another and to initiate a turn by pushing the rear portion of one ski against the rear portion of the other ski. The means is a pair of blocks 12, one block 12 being mounted on the rear portion and on the top surface of each ski 4.

The turning force which is facilitated by the blocks 12 complies with the rules of biomechanics better than the conventionally used turning technique. To execute a right turn, that is a turn in a clockwise direction, the right shoulder and arm will be in front of the left shoulder and arm and the right foot on the right ski will be in back of the left foot and ski. Thus, the right turn is made with the right ski behind the left ski. The right foot is approximately 6 to 12 inches behind the left foot. The skier exerts a push by the right ski on the block 12 mounted on the rear portion of the left ski, which push initiates a right turn.

Referring to FIG. 3, in one embodiment the means adapted to engage the lower end of each ski pole 6 to the front portion of one of the skis 4 includes a pair of cupped-shaped sockets 14, one socket 14 being mounted on the front portion of each ski 4; and a pair of T-shaped members 16, one such member being mounted at the lower end of each ski pole 6. The T- shaped members 16 are adapted to engage sockets l4. Referring to FIG. 3, the T-shaped member on the lower end of each ski pole 6 includes a pointed tip 18 and a short rod 20 which extends radially through the ski pole 6 adjacent to the tip 18. Referring to FIG. 1, the socket 14 is positioned on the top surface of the ski 4 at the point where the curve of the toe of the ski ends and the ski becomes flat. Returning to FIG. 3, the socket 14 has a slot 22 in the bottom of its cuppedshaped portion 24, used when rod 20 is axially aligned with slot 22. The engagement of ski pole 6 to socket 14 occurs when ski pole 6 is rotated approximately 90 after rod 20 and pointed tip 18 have been inserted through slot 22. Such rotation causes rod 20 within hollow portion 26 to be positioned transversely with respect to slot 22.

The ski poles 6 may be disengaged from the sockets 14 and quickly released for use in balancing. For disengagement, ski pole 6 is rotated approximately 90 so that rod 20 is axially aligned with slot 22. The rod 20 can be pulled out through slot 22. The socket 14 may optionally have a support member which elevates the socket 14 slightly above the surface of the ski 4.

Referring to FIG. 4, an alternate embodiment may be used where brackets 30 replace the sockets 14 shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. Each bracket 30 is positioned at a point 10 at the front portion of each ski 4 where the curve of the toe of the ski ends and the ski becomes flat. The bracket 30 includes a longitudinal U-shaped channel having one or more transverse rods 34. In this embodiment, two such transverse rods 34 are used, but a greater or lesser number of transverse rods 34 may be used.

The bracket 30 has a pair of longitudinal buttresses 36 which are integral with the bracket 30 and which serve to support the U-shaped channel 32 of the bracket 30 and to enable the bracket 30 to be firmly affixed to the top surface of ski 4. The transverse rods 34 are adapted to engage the hook 38 on the end of each ski pole 6. The hook 38 can be quickly disengaged from transverse rod 34 of bracket 30 and released so that the ski pole 6 may be used for balancing, independent of bracket 30, when necessary. The hook 38 may also be used by pushing it against rod 34a, but not engaging rod 34a.

If the skier leans forward on poles 6, he can use the front portion of the skis as a pivot point with the rear portion of the skis 4 lifted slightly and displaced right or left, such as for turning. If the skier 8 leans back,

with the poles 6 engaged in either socket 14 of FIG. 3 or bracket 30 of FIG. 4, he can exert pull on the front portion of the skis 4 which raises the front portion of the skis 4 slightly and allows the skis 4 to be displaced right or left such as for turning. Sudden unwanted forward or backward shift of weight can be compensated for by pushing or pulling on poles 6 when they are engaged in either socket 14 or bracket 30, thereby preventing the skier from falling backward or forward.

What is claimed is:

1. In a ski-instructional device for use with a pair of skis and a pair of ski poles, the combination comprismg:

a. a pair of attachments, each attachment being adapted to be mounted upon the upper surface of a different one of the skis at a location where the curvature of the tipe of the ski is substantially tangential to the remainder of the ski, each said attachment comprising a cupped-shaped receiver positioned on said skis with the opening of the cupped-shape facing upwardly, the surface of the interior of the cupped-shape having a slot; and

b. means adapted to be mounted on the lower end of each of the ski poles for mechanically coupling each pole to a different one of the attachments, said means for mechanically coupling each pole to a different ski comprising a T-shaped tip attached to the lower end of each of said ski poles, said T- shaped tip being insertable into said slot to bear against the attachment and when turned at an angle to the slot engaging the edges of the slot whereby said mechanical coupling means enables the skier to transmit both upwardly and downwardly extending forces through the ski poles to the tips of the skis, whereby the coupling means when engaged with the attachments enables the skier to vary the weight on the forward portion of the skis by forces transmitted through the ski poles.

2. The ski-instructional device according to claim 1 and further comprising blocks mounted on the rear upper surface of each ski, said blocks positioned contiguous with the inside edge of each ski a short distance from the tail end of each ski so as to prevent the skis from crossing over each other during turns by the skier and for facilitating said turns. 

1. In a ski-instructional device for use with a pair of skis and a pair of ski poles, the combination comprising: a. a pair of attachments, each attachment being adapted to be mounted upon the upper surface of a different one of the Skis at a location where the curvature of the tipe of the ski is substantially tangential to the remainder of the ski, each said attachment comprising a cupped-shaped receiver positioned on said skis with the opening of the cupped-shape facing upwardly, the surface of the interior of the cupped-shape having a slot; and b. means adapted to be mounted on the lower end of each of the ski poles for mechanically coupling each pole to a different one of the attachments, said means for mechanically coupling each pole to a different ski comprising a T-shaped tip attached to the lower end of each of said ski poles, said T-shaped tip being insertable into said slot to bear against the attachment and when turned at an angle to the slot engaging the edges of the slot whereby said mechanical coupling means enables the skier to transmit both upwardly and downwardly extending forces through the ski poles to the tips of the skis, whereby the coupling means when engaged with the attachments enables the skier to vary the weight on the forward portion of the skis by forces transmitted through the ski poles.
 2. The ski-instructional device according to claim 1 and further comprising blocks mounted on the rear upper surface of each ski, said blocks positioned contiguous with the inside edge of each ski a short distance from the tail end of each ski so as to prevent the skis from crossing over each other during turns by the skier and for facilitating said turns. 